A Treatise of Witchcraft eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 95 pages of information about A Treatise of Witchcraft.

A Treatise of Witchcraft eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 95 pages of information about A Treatise of Witchcraft.

    [Footnote g:  Godelmannus de magia tacita & illicita, lib. 1. cap.
    2. xº.8.9.10 &c.
]

To renounce God his Creator, and that promise made in Baptisme.

To deny Iesus Christ, and refuse the benefites of his obedience, yea to blaspheme his glorious and holy name.

To worship the Deuill, & repose all confidence and trust in him.

To execute his commaundements.

To vse things created of God for no end, but to the hurt and destruction of others.

And lastly, to giue himselfe soule and body to that deceitfull and infernall spirit, who on the other part appeareth to them in the shape of a man (which is most common) or some other creature, conferreth familiarly, and bindeth himselfe by many promises, that at all times called for, he will presently come, giue counsell, further their desires, answer any demaund, deliuer from prison, and out of all dangers, bestow riches, wealth, pleasure, and what not? and all without any labour and paines-taking, in a word to become seruiceable to their will, & accomplish all their requests.  And this is that which the Prophet Esay speaketh, chap. 28. 15. to make a couenant with death, and an agreement with hell.  The consent of the ancient Fathers, if there were any doubt, might be added to the further clearing of this conclusion.  For [h]_Cyprian_ directly affirmeth, that all those who vse magicall Arts, make a couenant with the Diuell, yea he himselfe, while he practized the same (before his calling to the light and true knowledge of God) was bound vnto him by an especiall[i] writing, whereunto some subscribe with their owne bloud, which was a vse among diuers nations, and a most sure bond of constant friendship, and [k]inuiolable consociation.  But herein these seduced wretches are deceiued:  for these promises which he makes, are treacherous, and the obseruances whereunto he enioyneth and perswadeth them, as powerfull in producing such or such effects, meere deceipts, and haue no qualitie in them to that purpose, but respecteth his owne ends, which are one of these foure.

[Footnote h:  Siue illius sit, siue alterius esto liber.  De duplici Martyrio.  Aquinas 2ª. 2a. quest. 96.  Ioh.  Gerson in Trilogio astrologiae Theologisatae propositione 21. & de erroribus circa artem magicam, Dicto 2.]

    [Footnote i:  Camerarius meditationum historiarum, lib. 1. cap. 6. 
    Bodinus exampla ponit D[e,]monomanias. lib. 2. & 4.  Binfeldius de
    confessionibus maleficorum.
]

[Footnote k:  Simile de Catilina refert Salustius. cum ad ius iurandum populares scelerius sui adigeret, humani corporis sanguinem vina permixtum in pateris circumtulisse, inde cum post execration[~e] omnes degustauissent, sicut in solemnibus sacris fieri consueuit aperuisse consili[~u] suum, atque eo dictitant fecisse, quo inter se magis fidi forent.]

First, to the mouing of them to the breaking of Gods law.

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A Treatise of Witchcraft from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.